Whole Foods Market has reportedly signed a lease at the former Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. The grocery retailer would become the first committed tenant in the property’s anticipated mixed-use redevelopment.
According to an industry source, Whole Foods plans to construct a new store at the 107-acre site. However, neither the retailer nor the property’s ownership group has publicly confirmed the agreement.
The development follows the October 31 closure of Neshaminy Mall’s interior shopping areas. Owners Paramount Realty and Edgewood Properties plan to partially demolish the property and introduce new commercial and residential uses.
The New Jersey-based development partners acquired the struggling shopping center for $27.5 million in 2024. Since then, they have been developing plans to reposition the approximately one-million-square-foot retail property.
The proposed redevelopment would incorporate new retail space, restaurants, entertainment, offices, medical services, and residential housing. Additionally, the developers envision a mix of convenience and service-oriented businesses.
Whole Foods could serve as a significant grocery anchor for the revitalized property. The Amazon-owned retailer currently operates 13 locations throughout the Philadelphia region.
Its typical stores occupy approximately 40,000 square feet, although dimensions for the proposed Bensalem location remain unconfirmed.
The grocer has also become involved in several regional retail redevelopment projects. Existing Whole Foods locations include Plymouth Meeting Mall and Exton Square Mall.
Additionally, the company is expected to anchor a new retail and townhome development in Collegeville.
At Neshaminy Mall, several existing businesses will remain operational during the redevelopment process. Boscov’s, AMC Theatres, Barnes & Noble, and Jean Madeline Institute maintain exterior entrances and will continue serving customers.
Meanwhile, the ownership group anticipates submitting redevelopment plans to Bensalem Township in mid-November 2026.
Proposed demolition includes portions of the former Sears and Macy’s department stores, along with other closed mall sections. Construction-related demolition could begin before the end of 2026, pending necessary approvals and scheduling.
The residential component remains subject to municipal review. Developers have indicated that multiple housing types could be incorporated into the master plan.
Located near Interstate 276 and Route 1, Neshaminy Mall benefits from access to major regional transportation corridors. This connectivity supports the property’s potential repositioning as a mixed-use destination.
For Greater Philadelphia’s commercial real estate market, the redevelopment reflects the ongoing transformation of traditional enclosed shopping malls. Developers increasingly seek grocery anchors, residential uses, and complementary commercial tenants to create more diversified properties.
If confirmed, the Whole Foods lease would represent an important early commitment for the Neshaminy Mall redevelopment. The project remains in the planning stages as ownership advances its proposed transformation of the Bensalem property.
*Article courtesy of Philadelphia Business Journal
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